In this plot of mistaken identity, Becky instructs her son to cheat his elderly father Isaac, who is lying on his deathbed. Will Jacob pretend to be that which he is not? Is he ready for the last moment he is going to have with his father?

This is a modern twist on a very old story. It is so much more than a morality tale. Do you find sibling rivalry in adults intriguing? Are you troubled by the notion that the sins of the fathers will be visited upon the children? If so, you will find this story utterly captivating.

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In this plot of mistaken identity, Becky instructs her son to cheat his elderly father Isaac, who is lying on his deathbed. Will Jacob pretend to be that which he is not? Is he ready for the last moment he is going to have with his father?

This is a modern twist on a very old story. It is so much more than a morality tale. Do you find sibling rivalry in adults intriguing? Are you troubled by the notion that the sins of the fathers will be visited upon the children? If so, you will find this story utterly captivating.

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5.0 out of 5 starsA Favorite Son, a literary feast.

3 August 2014 - Published on Amazon.com

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"Sell me your birthright," I say, as loudly as I can. "We are twins, after all. First son, second son -- same difference, right? It's a split second either way. What does it matter? Sell me the damned thing and you get to eat." So speaks Jacob to Esau, the twin sons born late to Rebecca and Isaac. That competition fuels this Biblical story of young men at odds and in competition over inheritance and their father's deathbed blessing.

Like the Biblical tale from which it is drawn, "A Favorite Son" has much to teach us. So you think you know this story, have already gleaned from it all it has to offer? Think again. Uvi Poznansky's Biblical tales are always surprising, always lyrical, yet always modern and fresh.

Morality tales updated for the 21st century? Why bother? Because we need those lessons, those insights, more than ever. But don't read A Favorite Son for the meditation upon truths of human nature -- which it does offer, and rich ones at that.

Read it for what Uvi brings to her tales of bible times: a unique and special flavor, hers alone. Zola is credited with saying, "Art is life seen through a temperament." Whether or not Zola was the first to say this, the definition of art is the best we have. And by that definition, Uvi creates art in "A Favorite Son," but art never distanced from the reader; literary fiction for our times.

Read all of Uvi's tales of the Old Testament and learn something about your own history, your own emotions, your own culture while you're enjoying the sumptuous feast laid before you. Did I say feast? Well, there is a certain meal in this particular tale, which nourishes the story and the reader in surprising ways...

Dysfunctional families aren't reserved just for the modern day, and this story retells what must be one of the most classic cases in history. The fact that it's Biblical history just adds to the mystique.

It's the gentle twists of difference that bring this tale of Jacob and Esau to life and give it power. Yankle, the younger son, grows up resenting his bigger, stronger, marginally older brother. Parental favorites wound. Meanwhile the beloved mother appears as a foreigner, carried away from home and family (and riches) to live in a tent with her past safely hidden in a box. She doesn't wear a burka. Her shoes are painfully inappropriate. She doesn't belong, and neither does her son.

Author Uvi Poznansky adds a sense of immediacy to the tale as Yankle looks back on his past with a curious mix of modern and ancient perspectives. There's a pleasing humor as he muses over religions born from his home or complains of "no bus ticket to be found; and... a plane ticket was out of the question." There's all the delight of the familiar when Jacob's ladder appears, and all the joy of the new as hints and details sneak quietly into the tale. Simultaneously bringing past and present to life, the author gives this Bible story a powerful modern-day relevance behind its haunting antiquity, with every detail inspiring further thought and contemplation. A masterful retelling.

5.0 out of 5 starsMasterfully Retold Biblical Story of a Son's Deception to Gain His Father's Blessing as a Favorite Son

8 August 2017 - Published on Amazon.com

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A favorite son written by Uvi Poznansky and narrated by David Kudler retells the biblical story of Jacob and Esau. The story is told from Jacob's point of view which a modern audience can relate to. As an older man, Jacob tried to explain why he stole his older brother's inheritance as he recounts his youth. Author Poznansky masterfully characterizes Jacob as an intelligent and self-reflective man who deeply regrets tricking his older twin, Esau, into exchanging his inheritance for a savory stew. The most poignant scene is when Jacob's mother, Rachel, convinces Jacob to deceive his blind father, Isaac, into believing he is Esau. In doing so, Jacob steals his older brother's blessing and subsequently the entire inheritance. This is a moral tale of the consequences of a parent favoring one child over another and pitting one against another to gain the father's blessing as a favorite son. I highly recommend the audio-book because David Kudler delivers a heart-wrenching performance that capture Jacob's sorrow and guilt as he narrates the story.

For those of us familiar with the bible, we instantly see the correlation between the story of Jacob, Rebecca and Issac.This is a modern day tale of perspective. Even though the sands of time keep passing by and technologically, the world advances, human deceit and cunning have not. What I found interesting was how she wove this story in the modern age. I was left wondering why Yankle, the son who betrayed his brother and father for the cherished blessing, remained in the desert his entire life. I felt this should have been touched on a little more.I believe woman of all ages and faiths will find this an interesting work.For men, the rank is a 3. For woman, I see them hitting four and five stars without a second thought. Overall, this is a four star work.

"A Favorite Son" by Uvi Poznansky is a skillful, creative modernization of the Biblical story of Isaac and Rebecca, and their twin sons, Jacob and Esau. Ms. Poznansky creates a story full of jealousy, spite and even hate, which competes with compassion, family ties and love. This is a quick read that was entertaining and often funny. The author appears to take turns respecting and mocking tradition, doing both in a delightful manner. One of the many lessons in this book is to be careful what you wish for, as is so brilliantly illustrated in the character Yankle, whose voice carries the story.

This is a real good book and I look forward to reading more of Uvi Poznansky's work.